[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-vision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda":3,"chapter-vision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda-vision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda-chapter-203":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","VISION GRID SYSTEM: THE COMEBACK OF RYOMA TAKEDA",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},730307,969,"Chapter 203: Declining the Champion","vision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda-chapter-203",203,"\u003Cp>The next morning, Narisawa Boxing Gym is alive again, ropes slapping, bags thudding, sneakers squeaking against the mat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the ring, Elliot Graves moves with calm precision. His rhythm is quiet but sharp, his step measured, each punch snapping like a whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first spar doesn’t last long. His opponent, an unranked fighter, takes two rounds before the coach waves it off, too much gap in class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second spar? It ends even faster, barely one round before the towel flies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot pulls his gloves off, expression calm, not gloating. To him, this is nothing more than rhythm work, warming up\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the corner, Shoji, the newly crowned Super Lightweight Champion, watches with mild interest. He’s not threatened, just warming up himself, rolling his shoulders loose, shadowboxing quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it’s supposed to be his turn to come, he notices something: Elliot talking with Sergei Volkov, low and firm. The Russian gestures sharply, shaking his head once, waving a hand toward Shoji’s direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoji frowns. \"What’s going on?\" he asks, glancing toward Satoshi, the interpreter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satoshi hesitates. He doesn’t answer right away, eyes still flicking between the two foreigners still speaking in low tones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Sergei steps back, nods once, and Satoshi finally approaches Shoji with an apologetic bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Graves says he will not spar today,\" Satoshi explains softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoji’s brows knit. \"What? You’re the ones who asked for sparring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satoshi keeps his tone careful. \"They still have many days left in Japan. There will be more opportunities. But... they already arranged another sparring session today. Someone else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoji blinks. \"You mean... another boxer? From outside?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satoshi nods. \"Yes. Mr. Graves personally requested him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words ripple through the gym. The few journalists and staff present exchange curious looks, their whispers rising. Who could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoji crosses his arms, half-offended. \"So he skips me, the Japanese Champion, just to spar someone else? Who is this guy he’s inviting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Satoshi can reply, the gym door slides open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coach Nakahara steps in, polite as ever, followed by Ryoma and the new coach, Takuya Sera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmurs spread instantly. Heads turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satoshi frowns. \"Don’t tell me... that’s the boxer he was inviting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nakahara doesn’t notice the stares, doesn’t know anything about the misunderstanding. He just walks straight to Narisawa, bowing with practiced politeness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for giving my boxer a chance to spar with Mr. Graves,\" he says sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narisawa blinks, caught off guard. \"Spar?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I appreciate it,\" Nakahara adds, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Narisawa only shakes his head, confused, the smile never forming. \"I... didn’t know about this. Sparring with whom?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Nakahara can answer, Satoshi suddenly hurries forward, bowing halfway in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, Narisawa-san! It was us,\" he blurts quickly. \"We contacted Coach Nakahara three days ago about arranging the spar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narisawa’s head turns sharply toward him. \"And you only tell me now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satoshi stiffens, sweat forming at his temple. \"I just... got his confirmation last night. I meant to tell you this morning but... I forgot.\" His voice lowers as he bows again, both hands pressed together. \"I thought... since Mr. Graves asked personally, and the ring was free... it wouldn’t be a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air hangs thick for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narisawa inhales slowly, jaw tightening. Every instinct in him wants to snap, but the cameras are rolling, and the gym is full of witnesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last thing he needs is a scene in front of his own boxers. So he forces a small smile, smoothing his tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it,\" he says finally, adjusting his collar. \"If Mr. Graves wants it, then he gets it. It’s not a big deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gives a small wave of dismissal, half-turning toward the crowd. \"Let’s just treat it as a courtesy. A world contender can do whatever he wants, I suppose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words sound calm, but everyone nearby can feel the tightness behind them, the quiet sting of being bypassed in his own gym.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satoshi bows again, murmuring apologies under his breath. Nakahara, oblivious to the tension, simply nods and starts preparing Ryoma for warm-up, polite and focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But behind them, Narisawa’s eyes linger on Elliot for a long moment. Then he watches Nakahara’s modest clothes, his small-gym energy, and feels a sting of insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his eyes shift to Ryoma. Narisawa recognizes the face. He’s heard the chatter, seen the headlines, the little spectacles that stirred Tokyo’s boxing scene for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he’s never actually watched Ryoma fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Narisawa, Ryoma Takeda is just another name in the endless cycle of \"next big things.\" Every year, someone new shines bright for a while... then fades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhales quietly and turns away, muttering under his breath, bitterness bleeding through his calm tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Declined my champion... just to spar an unranked kid from a no-name gym. What an insult.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd senses the tension, a quiet shift rippling through the gym. In the middle of it all, Elliot Graves starts to shadowbox, calm, composed, but with a focus so sharp it feels heavy in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’ve seen him spar before, but not like this. Not with that expression. Not even during his session with Junichiro yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the room, Ryoma warms up in silence, light on his feet, rolling his shoulders, letting the rhythm of his breathing carry him through the nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Takuya Sera watches the ring for a long moment before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve followed that guy for a while, back when I was still in England,\" Sera says quietly. \"He had three losses early in his career. Then that Russian, Sergei Volkov, took him in. Ever since, he hasn’t lost a single fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryoma raises a brow. \"A Russian?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze shifts to the ring, toward Sergei, who stands with his arms crossed, quietly observing. But soon, Elliot’s shadowboxing steals his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s something captivating in Elliot’s movement. The smooth, pendulum-like rhythm of his steps, weight rocking forward and back, side to side, looks effortless, almost hypnotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hasn’t thrown a single punch, yet every shift feels so slow and smooth, part of a larger rhythm that hides something deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryoma’s eyes narrow. \"Don’t tell me he fights with the Soviet style.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sera glances at him, a faint smile forming. \"You’ve done your homework. That’s good to hear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryoma doesn’t answer. He just keeps his focus on Elliot, his Vision Grid quietly parsing each motion, the balance, the tempo, the subtle play between stillness and movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knows the style, of course. But he’s never studied it, never faced someone who truly lives it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in his previous life, he never saw that kind of style in Japan. The country’s boxing has always leaned toward American precision and Mexican aggression; straight lines, clean shots, pressure, and heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this rhythm before him, it’s different. He’s heard it’s a nightmare for counter punchers like him. The constant rhythm shifts, feints, and angles blur the timing that counter fighters rely on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the theory. The story he once heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, as Ryoma keeps watching, something doesn’t add up. Elliot’s rhythm looks constant, steady, and almost predictable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Vision Grid feeds him a pattern that seems easy to counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But somewhere deep down, his instincts whisper otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, he’s ranked 9th in the world,\" Ryoma exhales. \"Let’s see how far I can last.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1214,"2026-06-02T11:09:26.935Z",1,"novelbin.me","509a22cbb80ed4f8829cb68d5b7b58ec69914b9460f5a79be82ebffde0d3112f","vision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda-chapter-204","vision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda-chapter-202",762,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fvision-grid-system-the-comeback-of-ryoma-takeda-cover.jpg"]